surrey fraser docks - lupine survey may 21, 2013 (draft)

8971 Beckwith Road Phone 604 279 2093 Richmond, BC V6X 1V4 Fax 604 279 2047

Offices in Richmond, Terrace, Prince George, Kamloops & Calgary www.triton-env.com

V1 June 5, 2013

Reference: 4419/WP

Jurgen Franke, P. Eng.

Fraser Surrey Docks (FSD)

11060 Elevator Rd

Surrey, BC V3V 2R7 Re: Evaluation of Bekaert Access Road Option 2 at Fraser Surrey Docks (FSD)

1.0 Introduction

Triton Environmental Consultants (Triton) was retained by FSD to conduct an environmental

assessment of the proposed Option 1 and 2 Access Road(s) into the Bekaert’s site. We

understand Option 2 was identified for consideration by Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) in May

2013. Option 1 was investigated in 2012 and the results of that investigation were summarized in

letters to the PMV submitted in April 2013. The proposed road is located directly adjacent to an

existing, roughly 148 m long ephemeral, green coded (non fish-bearing, insignificant nutrients

and flow) ditch and surrounding wooded area (Figures 1 and 2, Delcan Drawing EB3075-SK-

09). The PMV indicated historical records of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) listed Streambank

Lupine (Lupinus rivularis) in the wooded area, although not in the immediate vicinity of the

proposed road (Kim Keskinen, PMV, pers.comm., 2013). The wooded area is isolated in the

landscape, surrounded by railway track to the south and east and active, paved sites to the north

and west.

2.0 Methods

The following tasks were completed in support of the assessment: review of listed species

records at FSD in the Conservation Data Centre (CDC) database and May 2013 field surveys of

the proposed road footprint and adjacent areas (riparian, instream and upland habitats), as well as

the railway Right of Way (ROW) and adjacent areas along the southern and eastern boundaries

of the wooded area and for 100 m on both sides of the Elevator Road entrance into the site. The

timing of the May 2013 survey coincided with Lupine flowering.

OPTION 2-Bekaert’s Access Road June 2013


Figure 1. Overview of area of interest

Figure 2. Overview of wooded area



3.0 Results

3.1 CDC Records

The following information on Streambank Lupine at FSD was compiled from the CDC Internet

Mapping Service (Appendix 1 –pgs 1 and 2, Streambank Lupine Recovery Team, 2012):

“…Four sub-populations: on the railway bed, opposite 10555 Timberland Road and at

Robson Road; on the roadside in a sand landfill at River Road and along the roadside

and railway track across from 9560 Alaska Way…”

“…2011: 2 flowering plants; 49 seedlings observed across from Alaska Way…”

“…2010: 2 flowering plants and 24 seedlings across from 9560 Alaska Way…”

“…2009: 10 flowering plants, 51+ seedlings across from 9560 Alaska Way …”

3.2 Streambank lupine habitat preferences

Streambank Lupine occurs at lower elevations in open sandy or gravelly, moist riverbank sites

with limited ground cover and will sometimes occur in open canopy sites. Preferred sites are

generally subject to flooding; and like other lupines, this species is often associated with

disturbed but not weedy sites (COSEWIC, 2002)1.

3.3 Partly wooded area and green coded ditch

The partly wooded area shows evidence of disturbance from past land clearing, with Black

Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) and Red Alder (Alnus rubra) dominating the tree cover

(Photo 1). Additional species observed in the upland wooded area included: Himalayan

blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), Snowberry (Symhoricarpos albus), Common Horsetail

(Equisetum arvense.),Thistle (Cirsium sp.) and Archangel (Lamium galeobdolon). No

Streambank Lupine specimens (or any lupine specimens) were observed in the partly wooded

area. The green coded ditch channel was dry in May 2013 and characterized by fine sediment

(mud and organics) with no evidence of scour to alluvium (Photo 2). No pool or run habitat units

or functioning large woody debris (LWD) were observed in the channel. Banks were poorly

defined at multiple locations. The riparian community along the green coded ditch also included

Cottonwood, Himalayan blackberry, Horsetail and Red Alder.

1 COSEWIC 2002. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the streambank lupine Lupinus rivularis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vi + 36 pp.



ho

Photo 1. Opening in wooded area adjacent to Bekaert’s

Photo 2. Green coded ditch



3.4 Railway ROW survey

No lupine specimens were found in / along the railway bed or in association with surrounding

vegetation communities. Commonly occurring species in the surveyed areas included:

Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)

Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana)

Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Hardhack (Spiraea douglasii)

Common Rush (Juncus effusus)

Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

Himalayan Blackberry

Common Horsetail

4.0 Discussion

Streambank Lupine specimens were not found in the surveyed areas and the PMV indicated

historical records of occurrences in the wooded area do not overlap with the proposed Option 2

Road. Additionally, Lupine was not observed in either 2012 or 2013 in the Option 1 footprint,

which was originally investigated in 2012. The wooded area has been subject to past land

clearing includes a mix of commonly occurring native and exotic plant species. No listed plant

species were observed in this area.

The ephemeral green coded ditch lacks complexity (no pool or deep run cover, no LWD and has

a uniform fine substrate). It is classified as non fish-bearing and would also provide only limited

to suitable habitat for amphibians (e.g. lacking pool cover that may provide breeding habitat).

The riparian community alongside the ditch has limited species diversity and is dominated by

Himalayan blackberry in multiple areas. Some tree cover is available although mature specimens

are lacking.

In the event the Option 2 Access Road is ultimately selected, a new ditch can be excavated

beside the road resulting in no loss of the marginal wetted habitat currently available in the green

coded ditch. Detailed ditch plans will be provided to the PMV once the conceptual design has

been accepted. Similarly, riparian planting can be conducted alongside the west bank of the

relocated ditch to offset riparian changes associated with the Option 2 Access Road.



At this stage we recommend the following planting program adjacent to the relocated ditch: #2

pot Nootka Rose (75), #2 pot Hardhack (75), #1 pot Snowberry (150), #1 pot Scouler’s Willow

(Salix scouleriana) (75) and #2 pot Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) (10). A detailed

planting plan will be provided to the PMV once the conceptual design for Option 2 has been

evaluated by the PMV.

5.0 Closing

If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this letter report, please feel free to

contact the undersigned. Yours truly,

Karla Graf, PM

Bach. Env. Eng.

Dip. Tech. RRM

Cert. Tech. Comm. Triton Environmental Consultants Ltd.



Photo 3. Road access into wooded area

Photo 4. Limited shrub and herb layer in wooded area



Photo 5. Wooded area with opening in background of photo

Photo 6. Green coded ditch channel –dry at time of survey



Photo 7. Green coded ditch –Blackberry in riparian cover

Photo 8. Green coded ditch –Blackberry and horsetail riparian cover



Road between the single rail line and double rail line.

Photo 9. Nootka Rose along Robson Road at the ditch bank

Photo 10. Reed Canary Grass and Himalayan Blackberry along the east side of Robson



Photo 11. Looking towards Elevator Road from the single rail line along Robson Road

Photo 12. Horsetail along the north west shoulder of Robson Road looking towards Elevator Road



Photo 13. Himalayan Blackberry, Reed Canary Grass and Bracken Fern along the ditch bank on Elevator Road

Photo 14. Looking east down Elevator Road towards Robson Road along the rail line

BC Conservation Data Centre: Occurrence Report ( 3052 ) May 19, 2013 Lupinus rivularis streambank lupine

Field definition document available at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/atrisk/ims.htm

This is a summary report. For a complete record contact the CDC ([email protected]). Identifiers

Occurrence ID: 4209 Status:

Shape ID: 3052 Global: G2G4 Type: Vascular Pla

nt Provinicial:

S1

COSEWIC:

E (NOV 2002)

BC List:

Red Taxonomic Class: dicots

SARA Schedule: 1 Data Sensitive: N Locators Survey Site: FRASER SURREY DOCKS

Directions: Four sub-populations: on the railway bed, opposite 10555 Timberland Road and at Robson Road; on the roadside in a sand landfill at River Road and along the roadside and railline across from 9560 Alaska Way.

Survey Information

First Obs. Date: 1990-05-17 Last Obs. Date: 2011 Occurrence Data: Lupinus rivularis has been reported from the Fraser Surrey docks since 1990, and four

small sub-populations were identified in 2001 during surveys for a COSEWIC status

report. Three of these populations have since been extirpated by development and maintenance activities (B. Klinkenberg, pers. comm. 2004). 2011: 2 flowering plants; 49 seedlings across from Alaska Way (Streambank Lupine Recovery Team, 2012), 2010: 2 flowering plants and 24 seedlings across from 9560 Alaska Way (Streambank Lupine Recovery Team, 2012). 2009: 10 flowering plants, 51+ seedlings across from 9560 Alaska Way (Streambank Lupine Recovery Team, 2012).2006-07-26: Approximately 50% of the area where the lupines grow behind a concrete barrier at Alaska Way was accidentally mowed. Three plants survived the mowing, 17 plants remain in the area directly east of the mowed area and approximately 17 plants were found along the railway rails (S. Alain, pers. comm. 2006). 2005: More than 500 seedlings across from 9560 Alaska Way (Streambank Lupine Recovery Team, 2012). 2004-07: 3 remaining extant plants across from 9560 Alaska Way. Most plants at this location were covered by a pile of dirt and others were destroyed during the repair of a nearby water main (Vennesland, pers. comm.2004 ). 2001-summer: Three sub-populations with a total of 32 mature plants and 30+ seedlings at the River Rd., Timberland Rd. and Robson Rd sites; 50 flowering plants and 100+ seedlings across from 9560 Alaska Way (Streambank Lupine Recovery Team, 2012). 1999-08-23: Timberland Road - single large plant in old sand dredgings mixed with railroad gravel. Some question as to whether this is a natural or introduced population since it is along railway tracks (University of British Columbia herbarium). 1990-05-17: River Road - Small patch on sand landfill (F. Lomer, pers. comm.).

Occurrence Rank and Occurrence Rank Factors

Rank: CD Fair or

poor estimated viability

Rank Date: 2011

Rank Comments: Likely a residual population that has been reduced by industrial development and railway yarding, Lupinus rivularis has been reported from the Fraser Surrey docks since 1990. Three sub-populations were extirpated by development and activities associated with railway, road and hydro maintenance in 2004. The fourth

subpopulation is threatened by the same activities but was still extant in 2011 and appears to be reproducing.

Condition of Occurrence 2006: Plants that survived mowing were tiny and in bad shape, suffering from drought and needing water badly. Most plants had dispersed their seeds and only 3-4 had seed pods with seeds still in them (S. Letay, pers. comm. 2006).

Size of Occurrence: 1990: River Rd., small patch. 1999: Timberland Rd., one plant. 2001:Timberland, Robson and River Rds, 32 flowering plants; 30+ seedlings. Alask Way: 50 flowering plants; 100+ seedlings; Alaska Way: 2005- 500+ seedlings; 2009-10 flowering plants, 51 seedlings; 2010: 2 flowering plants; 24 seedlings; 2011: 2 flowering plants; 49 seedlings (Streambank Lupine Recovery Team, 2012).

Landscape Context: Low floodplain of Fraser River, in a heavily industrialized area with railway yards and roads. Maintenance and repair activities associated with the railway, roads and hydro installations all pose a threat to the populations.

Description

General Description: Low floodplain of Fraser River; heavily industrialized, in coarse gravel, silt and

sand along roadside urban railway dock area. Vegetation Zone: Lowland

Habitat: TERRESTRIAL: Roadside

Documentation

References: Alain, S. Personal communication. Fraser River Port Authority. New Westminster,

BC. Klinkenberg, B., and R. Klinkenberg. 2002. Status Report on Streambank Lupine, Lupinus rivularis, in Canada. Unpubl. rep. submitted to the Comm. on the Status of Endangered Wildl. in Can. Ottawa. 40pp. Letay, S. Personal communication. Ecosystems Officer, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Resource Operations. South Coast Region Surrey, BC. Lomer, F. Personal communication. Botanical Consultant. Streambank Lupine Recovery Team. 2012. DRAFT Recovery strategy for streambank lupine (Lupinus rivularis) in British Columbia. Prepared for the B.C.

Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC. University of British Columbia. Dep. Bot., Dep. Zool., Biol. Sci. Bldg., 6270 Univ. Blvd., Vancouver, BC. Vennesland, R. 2002. Personal communication. Species at risk recovery biologist, Surrey, BC.

Version

Version Date: 30-APR-13

Mapping Information

Estimated Representation Accurac

y: High

Confidence Extent: ? May 19, 20

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surrey fraser docks - lupine survey may 21, 2013 (draft)

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